Award-Winning Films Encourage New Foster Carers - Inspired by Lincoln Alumnus

Dave Smith, a University of Lincoln, UK, alumnus is the filmmaker behind the critically acclaimed national campaign that’s aiming to encourage more people to become foster carers.

For almost a decade now, Dave, who graduated from Lincoln with a First in Media Production in 2002, has worked alongside production company Reel Twenty Five, CAN Digital, and local authorities to create annual campaigns that showcase the impact that fostering can have.

At the heart of each year’s project is a compelling short film, created by Dave, that illustrates how life-changing fostering can be.

This year’s film is titled Everything and tells the story of foster carer, Mike, whose surprise 60th birthday party offers Will and Zara, two former foster children who are now adults, the opportunity to reflect on their lives and express their gratitude for the difference Mike made, underscoring the lasting bonds that foster care creates.

The film was developed with the input and insight of foster carers and people with care experience ensuring that it remained authentic to the experiences of those involved with fostering.

That authenticity is a hallmark of Dave’s films and the wider campaign which began as a single collaboration with Coventry City Council in 2015. The initiative has since grown into a nationwide effort, with over 100 councils now participating – helping to significantly increase awareness of local authority fostering across the country.

Dave’s films have also garnered critical success with Childhood winning Best Promotional Film at the 2023 Royal Television Society (RTS) Awards. 2023’s release, Any of Us, is nominated in the same category this year – putting Dave in competition with friend and fellow University of Lincoln alumnus, Philip Arkinstall, with whom he was nominated for an RTS award for their graduation film in 2002.

Speaking about working on the campaign, Dave said: “This project has grown very organically from just the one council, nine years ago and it's really rewarding to be able to put the filmmaking skills I've developed over the years into such a worthwhile initiative.

“Collaboration really has been the key to the success of this project, from the councils involved in funding the project, to the care leavers who consult on the finer details of the script, to the cast and crew working creatively together on set. It shows what it's possible to achieve when people work together."

Reflecting on how his time at Lincoln helped him develop, and sharing his own advice for aspiring filmmakers, Dave added: “The reality is, you can only improve your skills in this field by making work - when you’re first starting out that often boils down to making mistakes and learning from them  - and there were lots of opportunities and freedoms to experiment whilst making films at Lincoln.

“I’d also encourage everyone to keep your eye out for opportunities to work with other people. You can only go so far on your own – so make sure your work is getting out there and finding the people who can help you take it to the next level.”